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Erica Chan, an Asian-American writer and director from Las Vegas, Nevada, found her creative voice early on. Painting, music, and dance were her outlets of expression, but it was in high school that she discovered the art of editing, sparking her fascination with storytelling through film. Choosing a career path was clear for Erica – film was her true calling.

 

During her time at UNLV she was recognized for her work and was granted the Emerging Filmmaker Award. She knew there was more to learn and pursued her masters at Florida State University at the College of Motion Picture Arts. There she developed a knack for pulling focus, but also refined her writing, storytelling, and technical skills. Shortly after graduating, Erica received a Student Emmy at the 37th College Television Awards for her work on "Isa and the Frog Prince". A few years after moving to Los Angeles, she joined I.A.T.S.E. Local 600 as a 1st Assistant Camera in 2019.

 

During the pandemic, when work came to a halt for everyone, Erica found herself helping others navigate the complexities of receiving their unemployment benefits. Her facebook group grew to 72k members at its' peak. To be able to assist others more directly, she co-founded her first company, Unemployment Gurus. Through this endeavor, Erica's company assisted thousands of people, ultimately recovering over $1.5 million for those in need.

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Currently, Erica is developing a timecard and job tracking mobile application called FreeMe for crew members. It's mission is to streamline administrative tasks and help crew members grow in their career. The app is set to launch around Spring 2024. She also has a new short film, called Fallen Petals, that will circulate the festivals in 2024. When not working, she spends her time dancing, painting, meeting others, or hiking with her Maltese-poodle named Kahlua.